Latest news with #OutdoorRetailer
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Next Big Thing? Debut ‘Switchback' Show Rallies Big Outdoor Industry Support
What many consumers and newcomers to the outdoor industry might not know (but intuitively sense) is that the outdoor industry developed a large vacuum in the wake of the pandemic. It's not only reflected in the very painful vacancies left by specialty retail closures and supply chain craters that spelled doom for manufacturers, but also in the conspicuous and jarring absence of a marquee gathering place. For years, Outdoor Retailer attracted almost every single person, brand, and business to palatial convention halls that, when all attendees were accounted for, had less elbow room left over than a bivy sack. Those days seem long gone (though the show has promise with a reimagined purpose). But after 5 years of Zoom meetings, virtual showrooms, and a smattering of smaller niche shows, a flicker of anticipation has quickly spread among industry vets over a potential new 'big thing.' Debuting for the first time as a standalone event, Switchback — previously a segment within the annual The Running Event show — will take place in Nashville, Tenn., at the Gaylord Opryland from June 16 to 18. Already, Switchback has revealed a surprising lineup of heavy-hitting brands and attendees. When I spoke to Christina Henderson, director of both The Running Event and Switchback, she confirmed that the response to the show has been quite a surprise. 'We have 170 brands committed — that's 30,000 square feet of exhibit space,' Henderson told me last week. 'We didn't realize how big of a deal this would be.' What led to this response? To be sure, every vacuum creates opportunity. But Switchback has also deliberately taken certain pages from the big trade show playbook, while ripping out others in favor of a new paradigm. Among the 170 confirmed brands are industry titans like The North Face, Arc'teryx, and Cotopaxi, all of which had stopped attending OR. However, Switchback will also have a large contingent of small, independent brands and specialty retailers. According to Henderson, the show will ensure nobody has to play second fiddle to companies with deeper pockets. 'We limited the booth size at Switchback Spring, so the largest booth you can get is 400 square feet,' she said. 'That concept has been really well received; you'll have category leaders next to emerging brands, and you won't have these 'Taj Mahal'-type booths. It has really created an inclusive and welcoming floor plan.' Additionally, Switchback will dedicate an exhibit to assist specialty retailers. Show organizers hired a merchandising agency to design and assemble an 'innovation lab.' A veritable concept store within the show, this lab will demonstrate how retailers can assemble and curate pillar products, like camping gear, footwear, and backpacks, differently. Even though it's all just 'on paper' at this point, Henderson and her team have already received good feedback. 'I'm most looking forward to seeing the turnout from outdoor specialty buyers,' Mason Brent, wholesale director at Howler Brothers, told GearJunkie. 'We haven't been to OR in years, so this type of networking in an open floor plan format will be fun to experience again.' Beyond some retooled approaches, Switchback will have a little old, a little new, a little borrowed, and a little … blue. 'There's a river that goes all around the property!' Henderson said cheerfully of the event venue, the Gaylord Opryland. 'So we have 'Switchback'-branded boats. You can get in a boat and go around the river within this property.' Novelty aside, Switchback will adhere to some familiar structure. Expect jam-packed days one and two, with an opening reception on the first evening for brands, buyers, and media. A robust slate of educational sessions, much of it tailored to small business strategy, will take place in an on-site theater. Jim Weber, former CEO of Brooks Running, will deliver the opening keynote, addressing what Henderson described as 'the current moment of change' throughout the outdoor industry. And of course, attendees will be sure to scurry away to all manner of after-hours gatherings, parties, and extracurriculars. So far, as a concept, Switchback is on track to fill the demand left in the wake of 2020. 'Switchback feels like it has good energy,' Ross Herr, Rab's vice president of sales for the U.S., said. 'They've listened to feedback, kept prices low, and the timeframe tight. Everyone sounds like they're bringing more modest footprints than the national events of the past, so it will hopefully be about connecting with our retailers and talking about great new products.' The early buy-in is promising, but the success of Switchback — and whether it can rise to the level of an Outdoor Retailer — will hinge on the experience. Henderson acknowledged there will be follow-up surveys to gauge attendee satisfaction and find room for improvement. But she also confirmed that what will ultimately win (or lose) the day is not so tangible. 'How I could put it into words — the vibe or the energy. That is how I knew The Running Event was successful beyond the numbers or the record-breaking attendance, it's the energy,' she said. 'If you're there, you feel it.' You can sign up to attend the debut Switchback Spring show — but act fast. Exhibit space for the show has already surpassed 96% capacity. Editors' Top Gear Picks From Outdoor Retailer 2024
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to help fund Salt Palace redevelopment passes committee
SALT LAKE CITY () — A bill that would pave the way for Salt Lake County to help fund the redevelopment of the Salt Palace Convention Center got a thumbs up in a Senate committee on Monday. S.B. 306, otherwise known as 'Convention Center Investment Amendments,' got its favorable recommendation behind a 3-1 vote from the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, with three absent. Controversial flag bill banning certain flags in classrooms passes House Sen. Daniel McCay (R-Riverton) said Salt Lake County asked for the bill as a way to help finance their ability to replace parts of the convention that will be redeveloped into the . The bill itself does not create any new revenue streams or increase any tax but instead reallocates money from the fourth-quarter transportation fund – a source of revenue Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said can afford to be redistributed. Wilson said aside from a few canyon roads, Salt Lake County is 'wall-to-wall city and state roads.' Reallocating a portion of money from the fourth-quarter transportation fund will still allow the county to maintain its few roads while also completing transportation projects and investing in the Salt Palace. House passes bill preventing abortion providers from teaching in public schools 'We feel this is a good purpose. The rebuilding of the Salt Palace is a win for the community,' said Wilson. 'The creation of the sports entertainment culture and convention district is an absolute win for the community. The thing that excites me the most is the idea that we can connect our assets.' The exact look of a revitalized Salt Palace Convention Center – which regularly hosts large events such as FanX and Outdoor Retailer – is still unclear. Mayor Wilson, however, said that once completed, the building will integrate better with Salt Lake City, making it easier for the public to get around. Sen. Wayne Harper (R-West Jordan) was the lone vote against the bill, only saying he was 'not quite there yet' on the bill. Harper indicated he has had conversations with Sen. McCay and a substitute version of the amendments may be on the way. S.B. 306 will now head toward the Senate Floor where it will face a full vote. If passed, it will be sent to Utah's House of Representatives for further review. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Utahns campaign for Sundance Film Festival to stay in Park City
Locals are advocating for the iconic Sundance Film Festival to stay in Utah. Why it matters: Sundance organizers are weeks away from announcing whether the film festival will move to Cincinnati or Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 — or remain in Utah, its birthplace and home for the past four decades. Park City's contract with Sundance is set to expire in 2026, prompting organizers to open a process in April to explore a new location. State of play: A small coalition of locals and out-of-state festivalgoers launched a grassroots campaign last week to keep the annual event local. The group has printed and passed out thousands of stickers on Park City's Main Street and to other attendees that say "Keep Sundance in Utah" and "NOhio for Sundance." "People are coming up to us too and asking to get stickers," Marcia Victor, a Heber City resident who has attended Sundance for years, told Axios. What they're saying: Utah-based filmmakers like Cole Webley, whose movie " Omaha" premiered last week, wants the festival to stay put, calling its potential move "devastating." "It's such a piece of the identity of this state," Webley, who has been going to the festival for 20 years, told Axios. Attendees and industry executives argue the festival is synonymous with the posh resort town. It's also closer to Hollywood than the other proposed cities. Threat level: Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters this month that it would be a "huge mistake" if Sundance moved. "I think it would be really a death nail" for Sundance, he said. He pointed to Outdoor Retailer's move to Colorado over state leaders' support to reduce the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. "They chased the money and the politics and they went somewhere else, and it didn't work out for them, and they came back and so I hope that we don't have a repeat of that with Sundance," he said. Cox, who has previously bemoaned film tax incentives in Utah, said he feels "very good" about Salt Lake City and Park City's joint bid, but it may not be as "lucrative" as other competing cities. By the numbers: Out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million during last year's festival that drew over 72,000 in-person attendees, per an economic impact report. Zoom in: Sundance and Park City have come up together and are facing growing pains. For years, attendees have complained about bumper-to-bumper traffic, climbing lodging costs and large corporations and brands taking over the festival's spirit. One Park City business owner told Variety that the festival requires a "revival" if organizers choose to stick around. What's next: An announcement about Sundance's future is expected to come this winter or early spring.
